Florian Altermatt
@florianaltermatt.bsky.social
Full Professor of Aquatic Ecology University Zurich & @eawag.bsky.social | Kuratorium Forum Biodiversity | Founding Director https://biodiversitaet.uzh.ch/en.html | all & beyond #biodiversity, #eDNA & #AquaticEcology | Like=interesting
www.altermattlab.ch
www.altermattlab.ch
Pinned
Our study ‘The #global #human impact on #biodiversity’ is out in @nature.com: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
🌍🌐🐟🌿🪲
Unprecedented synthesis of >2000 studies led by @francoiskeck.bsky.social shows humans are not only shrinking species numbers—but reshaping entire communities across the planet.
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🌍🌐🐟🌿🪲
Unprecedented synthesis of >2000 studies led by @francoiskeck.bsky.social shows humans are not only shrinking species numbers—but reshaping entire communities across the planet.
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2-years #postdoc #position: #eDNA 🧬🔬for integrated #ecosystem and #biodiversity assessment
apply.refline.ch/673277/1297/...
In the new Eawag/WSL Biodiversity Monitoring Initiative we will strengthen & advance effective and scalable #biodiversity #monitoring methods & implement into practice. 🌐🌳🐟📈
apply.refline.ch/673277/1297/...
In the new Eawag/WSL Biodiversity Monitoring Initiative we will strengthen & advance effective and scalable #biodiversity #monitoring methods & implement into practice. 🌐🌳🐟📈
apply.refline.ch
November 4, 2025 at 3:24 PM
2-years #postdoc #position: #eDNA 🧬🔬for integrated #ecosystem and #biodiversity assessment
apply.refline.ch/673277/1297/...
In the new Eawag/WSL Biodiversity Monitoring Initiative we will strengthen & advance effective and scalable #biodiversity #monitoring methods & implement into practice. 🌐🌳🐟📈
apply.refline.ch/673277/1297/...
In the new Eawag/WSL Biodiversity Monitoring Initiative we will strengthen & advance effective and scalable #biodiversity #monitoring methods & implement into practice. 🌐🌳🐟📈
Reposted by Florian Altermatt
🎉 Excited to share the 2nd chapter of my PhD!
From 270 eDNA samples across Shark Bay (🇦🇺), we identified 106 fish species and mapped their diversity with remote sensing — all non-invasively! 🌊🐠
A scalable framework for characterising marine biodiversity
🔗 doi.org/10.1111/ddi.70074
From 270 eDNA samples across Shark Bay (🇦🇺), we identified 106 fish species and mapped their diversity with remote sensing — all non-invasively! 🌊🐠
A scalable framework for characterising marine biodiversity
🔗 doi.org/10.1111/ddi.70074
Integrating Environmental DNA Metabarcoding and Remote Sensing Reveals Known and Novel Fish Diversity Hotspots in a World Heritage Area
Aim Shark Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Western Australia, is highly vulnerable to climate change, yet its fish biodiversity remains poorly understood at fine spatial scales. We integrated en...
doi.org
November 3, 2025 at 3:22 PM
🎉 Excited to share the 2nd chapter of my PhD!
From 270 eDNA samples across Shark Bay (🇦🇺), we identified 106 fish species and mapped their diversity with remote sensing — all non-invasively! 🌊🐠
A scalable framework for characterising marine biodiversity
🔗 doi.org/10.1111/ddi.70074
From 270 eDNA samples across Shark Bay (🇦🇺), we identified 106 fish species and mapped their diversity with remote sensing — all non-invasively! 🌊🐠
A scalable framework for characterising marine biodiversity
🔗 doi.org/10.1111/ddi.70074
Out now by Zhang et al:
Hyperspectral imagery 🛰️, LiDAR point clouds 🛩️, and #eDNA 🧬 to assess land-water linkage of #biodiversity across #aquatic functional feeding groups.🐟🪰🦠🔬🌐🌍
zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
@eawag.bsky.social #UZH
Hyperspectral imagery 🛰️, LiDAR point clouds 🛩️, and #eDNA 🧬 to assess land-water linkage of #biodiversity across #aquatic functional feeding groups.🐟🪰🦠🔬🌐🌍
zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
@eawag.bsky.social #UZH
November 1, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Out now by Zhang et al:
Hyperspectral imagery 🛰️, LiDAR point clouds 🛩️, and #eDNA 🧬 to assess land-water linkage of #biodiversity across #aquatic functional feeding groups.🐟🪰🦠🔬🌐🌍
zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
@eawag.bsky.social #UZH
Hyperspectral imagery 🛰️, LiDAR point clouds 🛩️, and #eDNA 🧬 to assess land-water linkage of #biodiversity across #aquatic functional feeding groups.🐟🪰🦠🔬🌐🌍
zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
@eawag.bsky.social #UZH
Reposted by Florian Altermatt
"Humans aren’t very efficient movers—until you put us on a bicycle, when we become some of the most energy-efficient land travelers in the animal kingdom."
www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-hu...
www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-hu...
October 14, 2025 at 11:22 PM
"Humans aren’t very efficient movers—until you put us on a bicycle, when we become some of the most energy-efficient land travelers in the animal kingdom."
www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-hu...
www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-hu...
Reposted by Florian Altermatt
In massive #collaborative #effort, we assembled published & unpublished #fish 🐟 #eDNA 🧬 metabarcoding datasets, covering ~2000 sampling sites/>100 river systems globally. 🐟 🐠 🐡 🌐 🌍
Now results out in 2 #parallel #preprints @biorxiv-ecology.bsky.social
#aquatic #biodiversity #meta-analysis
1/6🧵
Now results out in 2 #parallel #preprints @biorxiv-ecology.bsky.social
#aquatic #biodiversity #meta-analysis
1/6🧵
September 29, 2025 at 1:32 PM
In massive #collaborative #effort, we assembled published & unpublished #fish 🐟 #eDNA 🧬 metabarcoding datasets, covering ~2000 sampling sites/>100 river systems globally. 🐟 🐠 🐡 🌐 🌍
Now results out in 2 #parallel #preprints @biorxiv-ecology.bsky.social
#aquatic #biodiversity #meta-analysis
1/6🧵
Now results out in 2 #parallel #preprints @biorxiv-ecology.bsky.social
#aquatic #biodiversity #meta-analysis
1/6🧵
In massive #collaborative #effort, we assembled published & unpublished #fish 🐟 #eDNA 🧬 metabarcoding datasets, covering ~2000 sampling sites/>100 river systems globally. 🐟 🐠 🐡 🌐 🌍
Now results out in 2 #parallel #preprints @biorxiv-ecology.bsky.social
#aquatic #biodiversity #meta-analysis
1/6🧵
Now results out in 2 #parallel #preprints @biorxiv-ecology.bsky.social
#aquatic #biodiversity #meta-analysis
1/6🧵
September 29, 2025 at 1:32 PM
In massive #collaborative #effort, we assembled published & unpublished #fish 🐟 #eDNA 🧬 metabarcoding datasets, covering ~2000 sampling sites/>100 river systems globally. 🐟 🐠 🐡 🌐 🌍
Now results out in 2 #parallel #preprints @biorxiv-ecology.bsky.social
#aquatic #biodiversity #meta-analysis
1/6🧵
Now results out in 2 #parallel #preprints @biorxiv-ecology.bsky.social
#aquatic #biodiversity #meta-analysis
1/6🧵
Auch im Spätsommer/Frühherbst lohnt sich das Tössstockgebiet für botanische Wanderungen (das Gute liegt so nah...): Gefranster Enzian, Frühlingsenzian, Deutscher Enzian, Scheuchzers Glockenblume, Stängellose Kratzdistel, Wiesen-Augentrost u.v.m. #Schnebelhorn #TopOfZurich
September 21, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Auch im Spätsommer/Frühherbst lohnt sich das Tössstockgebiet für botanische Wanderungen (das Gute liegt so nah...): Gefranster Enzian, Frühlingsenzian, Deutscher Enzian, Scheuchzers Glockenblume, Stängellose Kratzdistel, Wiesen-Augentrost u.v.m. #Schnebelhorn #TopOfZurich
Reposted by Florian Altermatt
"What makes food healthy?" Assistant Professor Patrick Rühs talks in an interview with ETH Zurich’s #Globe magazine about plant-based diets, food processing – and why blue corn tortillas are his favourite dish.
Read more:
Read more:
Plant-based foods for a healthy future
Patrick Rühs reveals why processed foods are crucial to global nutrition – and why blue corn tortillas are his favourite dish.
ethz.ch
September 19, 2025 at 7:38 AM
"What makes food healthy?" Assistant Professor Patrick Rühs talks in an interview with ETH Zurich’s #Globe magazine about plant-based diets, food processing – and why blue corn tortillas are his favourite dish.
Read more:
Read more:
September 14, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Reposted by Florian Altermatt
Last week, I defended my PhD thesis! 🎉
4 years diving into blue-green infrastructure, biodiversity, food webs, eDNA, and above all, amazing collaboration between engineers and ecologists 🏣🌱🐞🧬
Big thanks to @laurenmcook.bsky.social, Marco Moretti, and @florianaltermatt.bsky.social!
4 years diving into blue-green infrastructure, biodiversity, food webs, eDNA, and above all, amazing collaboration between engineers and ecologists 🏣🌱🐞🧬
Big thanks to @laurenmcook.bsky.social, Marco Moretti, and @florianaltermatt.bsky.social!
September 12, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Last week, I defended my PhD thesis! 🎉
4 years diving into blue-green infrastructure, biodiversity, food webs, eDNA, and above all, amazing collaboration between engineers and ecologists 🏣🌱🐞🧬
Big thanks to @laurenmcook.bsky.social, Marco Moretti, and @florianaltermatt.bsky.social!
4 years diving into blue-green infrastructure, biodiversity, food webs, eDNA, and above all, amazing collaboration between engineers and ecologists 🏣🌱🐞🧬
Big thanks to @laurenmcook.bsky.social, Marco Moretti, and @florianaltermatt.bsky.social!
Big congratulations congrats to @kperrelet.bsky.social for an excellent thesis and defense! Very well done.
Last week, I defended my PhD thesis! 🎉
4 years diving into blue-green infrastructure, biodiversity, food webs, eDNA, and above all, amazing collaboration between engineers and ecologists 🏣🌱🐞🧬
Big thanks to @laurenmcook.bsky.social, Marco Moretti, and @florianaltermatt.bsky.social!
4 years diving into blue-green infrastructure, biodiversity, food webs, eDNA, and above all, amazing collaboration between engineers and ecologists 🏣🌱🐞🧬
Big thanks to @laurenmcook.bsky.social, Marco Moretti, and @florianaltermatt.bsky.social!
September 12, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Big congratulations congrats to @kperrelet.bsky.social for an excellent thesis and defense! Very well done.
Upcoming at #UN #ScienceSummit in NY/online (24.9.2025):
Harnessing Environmental DNA: Advancing #SDGs and the Global #Biodiversity Framework. 🧬🛰️🐟🌍🌐
sciencesummitnyc.org/science-summ...
#eDNA #Biomonitoring #Biodiversity #GBF
REGISTER HERE: event.sciencesummitnyc.org/list-of-sess...
Harnessing Environmental DNA: Advancing #SDGs and the Global #Biodiversity Framework. 🧬🛰️🐟🌍🌐
sciencesummitnyc.org/science-summ...
#eDNA #Biomonitoring #Biodiversity #GBF
REGISTER HERE: event.sciencesummitnyc.org/list-of-sess...
September 9, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Upcoming at #UN #ScienceSummit in NY/online (24.9.2025):
Harnessing Environmental DNA: Advancing #SDGs and the Global #Biodiversity Framework. 🧬🛰️🐟🌍🌐
sciencesummitnyc.org/science-summ...
#eDNA #Biomonitoring #Biodiversity #GBF
REGISTER HERE: event.sciencesummitnyc.org/list-of-sess...
Harnessing Environmental DNA: Advancing #SDGs and the Global #Biodiversity Framework. 🧬🛰️🐟🌍🌐
sciencesummitnyc.org/science-summ...
#eDNA #Biomonitoring #Biodiversity #GBF
REGISTER HERE: event.sciencesummitnyc.org/list-of-sess...
What a joy to find 4 🐛🐛🐛🐛 of the spurge hawk-moth in our garden! We just have a few m2, yet keep it diverse, with native plants and extensive maintenance (and no pesticides nor short cut lawn). Starts to pay off😊 #BiodiversityRocks
September 6, 2025 at 1:43 PM
What a joy to find 4 🐛🐛🐛🐛 of the spurge hawk-moth in our garden! We just have a few m2, yet keep it diverse, with native plants and extensive maintenance (and no pesticides nor short cut lawn). Starts to pay off😊 #BiodiversityRocks
Happy to see this published:
#Terrestrial #land #cover shapes #fish 🐠 🐟 🐡 #diversity in a major subtropical #river catchment.
www.nature.com/articles/s42...
#eDNA 🧬 #RS 🛰️ 🌐 🌍 @commsbio.nature.com
1/4🧵
#Terrestrial #land #cover shapes #fish 🐠 🐟 🐡 #diversity in a major subtropical #river catchment.
www.nature.com/articles/s42...
#eDNA 🧬 #RS 🛰️ 🌐 🌍 @commsbio.nature.com
1/4🧵
September 4, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Happy to see this published:
#Terrestrial #land #cover shapes #fish 🐠 🐟 🐡 #diversity in a major subtropical #river catchment.
www.nature.com/articles/s42...
#eDNA 🧬 #RS 🛰️ 🌐 🌍 @commsbio.nature.com
1/4🧵
#Terrestrial #land #cover shapes #fish 🐠 🐟 🐡 #diversity in a major subtropical #river catchment.
www.nature.com/articles/s42...
#eDNA 🧬 #RS 🛰️ 🌐 🌍 @commsbio.nature.com
1/4🧵
Reposted by Florian Altermatt
On my way to #gfoe2025 @gfoesoc.bsky.social annual ecology conference in Würzburg www.gfoe-conference.de 🌳 🐟 🔬 🧪 🦀 🦋 🐝
Very much looking forward to catch up with my German & International #Ecology colleagues, please DM for a meeting/chat!
Very much looking forward to catch up with my German & International #Ecology colleagues, please DM for a meeting/chat!
September 2, 2025 at 6:29 AM
On my way to #gfoe2025 @gfoesoc.bsky.social annual ecology conference in Würzburg www.gfoe-conference.de 🌳 🐟 🔬 🧪 🦀 🦋 🐝
Very much looking forward to catch up with my German & International #Ecology colleagues, please DM for a meeting/chat!
Very much looking forward to catch up with my German & International #Ecology colleagues, please DM for a meeting/chat!
The importance of #karstic #aquifers for the past and future #survival of #groundwater #amphipod #biodiversity: out now @consbiog.bsky.social onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... 🧬 🦐 🏔️
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September 3, 2025 at 1:07 PM
The importance of #karstic #aquifers for the past and future #survival of #groundwater #amphipod #biodiversity: out now @consbiog.bsky.social onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... 🧬 🦐 🏔️
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On my way to #gfoe2025 @gfoesoc.bsky.social annual ecology conference in Würzburg www.gfoe-conference.de 🌳 🐟 🔬 🧪 🦀 🦋 🐝
Very much looking forward to catch up with my German & International #Ecology colleagues, please DM for a meeting/chat!
Very much looking forward to catch up with my German & International #Ecology colleagues, please DM for a meeting/chat!
September 2, 2025 at 6:29 AM
On my way to #gfoe2025 @gfoesoc.bsky.social annual ecology conference in Würzburg www.gfoe-conference.de 🌳 🐟 🔬 🧪 🦀 🦋 🐝
Very much looking forward to catch up with my German & International #Ecology colleagues, please DM for a meeting/chat!
Very much looking forward to catch up with my German & International #Ecology colleagues, please DM for a meeting/chat!
Just started teaching my yearly fieldcourse in #alpine #biodiversity and monitoring in the Swiss Alps (Elm).🏔️🌳🌲🦟🦅🌸
Looking forward to show the students a rich and biodiverse environment, and how humans shape this ecosystem.
Part of the #Biodiversity study program at #UZH www.biodiversity.uzh.ch
Looking forward to show the students a rich and biodiverse environment, and how humans shape this ecosystem.
Part of the #Biodiversity study program at #UZH www.biodiversity.uzh.ch
August 18, 2025 at 6:16 AM
Just started teaching my yearly fieldcourse in #alpine #biodiversity and monitoring in the Swiss Alps (Elm).🏔️🌳🌲🦟🦅🌸
Looking forward to show the students a rich and biodiverse environment, and how humans shape this ecosystem.
Part of the #Biodiversity study program at #UZH www.biodiversity.uzh.ch
Looking forward to show the students a rich and biodiverse environment, and how humans shape this ecosystem.
Part of the #Biodiversity study program at #UZH www.biodiversity.uzh.ch
Reposted by Florian Altermatt
A Global Synthesis on Land‐Cover Changes in Watersheds Shaping Freshwater Detrital Food Webs
🔗 buff.ly/Bb0WroB
@florianaltermatt.bsky.social @francoiskeck.bsky.social @EawagResearch @eawag.bsky.social @UZH_Science
🔗 buff.ly/Bb0WroB
@florianaltermatt.bsky.social @francoiskeck.bsky.social @EawagResearch @eawag.bsky.social @UZH_Science
August 15, 2025 at 4:59 PM
A Global Synthesis on Land‐Cover Changes in Watersheds Shaping Freshwater Detrital Food Webs
🔗 buff.ly/Bb0WroB
@florianaltermatt.bsky.social @francoiskeck.bsky.social @EawagResearch @eawag.bsky.social @UZH_Science
🔗 buff.ly/Bb0WroB
@florianaltermatt.bsky.social @francoiskeck.bsky.social @EawagResearch @eawag.bsky.social @UZH_Science
Reposted by Florian Altermatt
"If water is life, then groundwater is its lifeblood."
A forum paper on collaborative global eDNA study in groundwater ecosystems!
doi.org/10.3897/subt...
A forum paper on collaborative global eDNA study in groundwater ecosystems!
doi.org/10.3897/subt...
Advancing subterranean conservation through Global Research on eDNA in Groundwaters (GReG)
NONE
doi.org
August 14, 2025 at 12:40 PM
"If water is life, then groundwater is its lifeblood."
A forum paper on collaborative global eDNA study in groundwater ecosystems!
doi.org/10.3897/subt...
A forum paper on collaborative global eDNA study in groundwater ecosystems!
doi.org/10.3897/subt...
Reposted by Florian Altermatt
Researchers from #Eawag have conducted an extensive meta-analysis of field studies worldwide to better understand how land-cover changes in the watershed influence freshwater food webs.
👉 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
@florianaltermatt.bsky.social #foodwebs #landuse
👉 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
@florianaltermatt.bsky.social #foodwebs #landuse
August 4, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Researchers from #Eawag have conducted an extensive meta-analysis of field studies worldwide to better understand how land-cover changes in the watershed influence freshwater food webs.
👉 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
@florianaltermatt.bsky.social #foodwebs #landuse
👉 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
@florianaltermatt.bsky.social #foodwebs #landuse
On the lookout for entomological treasures, yet only finding their remains....
July 25, 2025 at 12:34 PM
On the lookout for entomological treasures, yet only finding their remains....
Reposted by Florian Altermatt
Fresh off the press! 🚨
What happens to species with different mobility when we replace urban green spaces with green roofs? Can they migrate to rooftops? 🏙️
TL;DR: Not really, but green roofs still offer unique and improvable habitats!
Now out: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
1/6
What happens to species with different mobility when we replace urban green spaces with green roofs? Can they migrate to rooftops? 🏙️
TL;DR: Not really, but green roofs still offer unique and improvable habitats!
Now out: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
1/6
Redirecting
doi.org
July 24, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Fresh off the press! 🚨
What happens to species with different mobility when we replace urban green spaces with green roofs? Can they migrate to rooftops? 🏙️
TL;DR: Not really, but green roofs still offer unique and improvable habitats!
Now out: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
1/6
What happens to species with different mobility when we replace urban green spaces with green roofs? Can they migrate to rooftops? 🏙️
TL;DR: Not really, but green roofs still offer unique and improvable habitats!
Now out: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
1/6
A nutria family happily grazing & munching duckweed in an oxbow overgrown as it were the tropics.
July 21, 2025 at 6:46 PM
A nutria family happily grazing & munching duckweed in an oxbow overgrown as it were the tropics.